Nigeria Discloses It Supplied Intelligence for Recent Airstrikes as US Official Predicts of More Attacks

The Nigerian foreign ministry has stated that it provided crucial intelligence in the American military operation conducted on Christmas Day, according to the country's foreign minister this week.

Ex-President Donald Trump previously declared the aerial attacks targeting ISIS militants in north-west Nigeria after spending weeks decrying the organization for attacking Christians.

Detailed Consultations Came Before the Military Action

Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, stated that he had held "extensive" phone conversations with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio immediately prior to and following the attack.

He also noted that Nigeria's leader, Bola Tinubu, had granted authorization for the airstrikes. Tuggar left the door open for further strikes, characterizing them as an "ongoing process" that would potentially include other countries.

"This operation had no connection to a specific faith," Tuggar emphasized in an discussion with the BBC. "It is to do with targeting militants who have been killing Nigerians."

US Warns of Further Strikes in Nigeria

Hours after the Christmas Day operation, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned of more strikes against Islamic State targets in north-western Nigeria.

Hegseth characterized the action as part of a mission to halt the targeting of Christian individuals, a stance echoed by the ex-commander in chief. In a public statement, Hegseth stated, "The president was explicit... the murder of innocent Christians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."

Supporters' Response to the Airstrikes

The holiday military operation were met with praise by some political allies of the ex-leader, who had been calling for a forceful response to the attacks against Christians.

"I can’t think of a more fitting manner to celebrate Christmas than by responding to the killings of Christians," posted one prominent political figure on social media.

Main Takeaways from the Revelations

• Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria actively provided crucial information for the American airstrikes.
• High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the strikes.
• Ongoing Process: The operation is viewed as an "continuing mission" with potential for future actions.
• Secular Objective: Nigerian officials strongly insist the targeting are solely about counter-terrorism, not religious affiliation.
• American Stance: A top American defense leader has indicated additional strikes are likely.

This development underscores the evolving security cooperation between Nigeria and the US in combating militant groups in the Sahel area.